The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26

Captain.
But an evil day came, day of battle,
of death and of fmourning-Chickamauga,
the dark "river of DEATH"
On Friday skirmishing began, on Satur-
day afternoon the battle opened, and on
Sunday morning, a calm Sabbath morn
ing, both armies were marshalcd in line,
face to face, ready to cast the fateful
die.
Up to that time, the last critical mo-
ment, Robert Nix had stood in line, ell
bow to elbow with the foremost file, and
then he disappeared, silently, myste-
riously, no one remembered when or
how
Itwas not until roll-call after the battle
that he was missed.
"He was in line when we started; he
must have been killed." was the report OF
the orderly sergeant.
1t was nearly two months afterward
when a guard arrived from Atlanta with
squad of prisoners, descrters arrested
at home by the conscript cavalry, and
brought back for trial.
Among these, with a puzzled look of
innocence in his eyes, was Robert Nix.
Without explanation he was sent to
the guard house, and charges of dcser-
ton in the face of the enemy were pre-
fcrred against him. In the regular rou-
tine of events q court-martial was con-
vcned and he was duly arraigned.
Lieutenant Snow testified that the
prisoner, Private Robert Nix, was pres
ent in line of battle on the morning of
September the Goth, 1868, and that be-
fore or during the engagement that day
he disappeared, witout leave or author
ity, and was not heard of again until he
was brought back to his command under
guard.
Sergeant Bliss, Acting Orderly of Com
pany c, with soldiers bluntness of die
ton. corroborated the Lieutenant's state
ment.
Captain Earle, of the conscript service,
testified "that, having been advised by
Judge Cahoule, a citizen Of Alabama,
of the prisoners whereabouts, he pro-
ceedcd to the house, and ter strategic
investment of the premises he succeeded
in arresting him, and finding him with
out leave of absence or written order, he
securely tied him and brought him back
to the front"
This closed the testimony for the
Judge Advocate. 49,
"Now, sir, what have you got to say2"
asked the President of the Court.
eff you please, sir, here's paper Mr..
Phil Wood wrote for me, and told me to
give it to you," presenting closely writ
ten scrawl.
The President read it. 1t was fatal
confession of guilt, and appealed to the
clemency of the court.
The President was just man, and see
ing the ignorance Of the prisoner, tore
the paper into shreds, without submit
ting it to his court.
"This paper does not effect the case in
the least. You must answer me now foI
yourself. How old are you2" he asked.
s'I shall be fifteen in March"
"How came you in the army"
"My papa hired me to Judge Cahoule,
to take the place of his son, Mr. George
Cahoule."
"Did you want to come9"
eyes, sir, for little while; only
came for sixty days, to give Dir. George
furlough."
"And when the time was up,you went
home"
"Oh, no, sir; Mr.. Cahoule give papa a
thousand dollars TO make me stay all the
time. begged to 60 home, but Colonel
Mitchell said my papa had a right to do
as he pleased with me, and l had to
stay"
iWell, what made you run away from
Chickamauga4"
81 didn't run, sir, with proud flush
and an unconscious Strengthening up.
Chow did you get away, thenl"
sI was shot, sir, and hoped back on
nv gun to the hospital, and the doctor
sent me off to Ringgold, on wagon"
"You say you were shot2"
eyes. sir, I was shot in the leg, can
show you the scar"
"Lct us see it,"
The prisoner rolled up his trousers. and
displayed an ugly scar in the calf of his
left leg. >.
"That will do. Now tell me how it
hapncned that none of your command saw
you
"Well, III tell you all about it. You
see we wanted water, all of us, and when
we was standing in line, waiting for the
word, asst Captain Rich if I moughtn't
run back and git drink, and he told me
ycs, to make haste and get back, and so
run back as hard as ever could; bit the
creek was furder than thought, and afore
T get back, the fight had begun and the
regiment was gone, and the provost guard
then picked me up and put me in squad
with Trigg's Virginia regiment. and we
sailed in, and the first thing | knowcd l
felt nv leg knocked out from under me,
and when I tried to get up I fell and
found that was shot, and the Major of
the regiment told me to get back if |
could, and if I couldn't, to holler for the
litter bearers. But 1 could hop by using
of nv gun, and so I just hobbled back,
but didn't run a step. I wouldn't "a
run like a coward for to save my life, for
nv mamma told me never to do that.
You may all shoot me if you want to,
but amt no coward"
"You say Captain Rich told you to go
after water?"
eyes, sir. he did"
"Wherc is Captain Rich!"
eHe's dead, sir. He was killed that
day, if he was alive he would tell you
So"
"Well, but how did you get home, and
how was it that the conscript cavalry got
you2"
sWell, I'll tell YOU. You see, when